Apparatus for measuring, cutting and splitting timber

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for automatically measuring, cutting and splitting timber having a bed for supporting the timber, a saw for cutting off the timber and a hydraulic ram that performs the dual function of splitting the timber during the forward stroke of the ram and advancing the uncut timber into a position to be cut during the backward stroke of the ram.

[ 1 Jan. 28, 1975 United States Patent [191 Heikkinen 144/19'1 R 144/193 A 144/193 A Worthington...... FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 2/1972 Helle..................... 9/1973 4/1954 Germany...,.....,.............. 144/193 A [22] Filed: Jan. 28, 1974 Primary Examiner-Andrew R. Juhasz Assistant Examiner-W. D. Bray Appl. No.: 437,344

A ,A F r 52 us. 144/3 K, 144/193 A, 144/194, "omey and [57] ABSTRACT An apparatus for automatically measuring, cutting and splitting timber having a bed for supporting the timber, a saw for cutting off the timber and a hydraulic ram that performs the dual function of splitting the timber during the forward stroke of the ram and ad- [51] Int. [58] Field of Search........ 144/193 R, 193 A, 193 E, 144/193 14,194,195, 2 N, 2 R, 3 R; 83/431 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS vancing the uncut timber into a position to be cut during the backward stroke of the ram.

83/431 X 144/193 A 144/193 A mm u 4. r Ute u BHS 366 666 999 111 230 454 56 1 720 748 1 333 7 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEI] JAN 2 8 I975 APPARATUS FOR MEASURING, CUTTING AND SPLITTING TIMBER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to apparatus for measuring, cutting and splitting timber and more particularly. to a hydraulically operated member that performs the dual function of advancing a timber to a position to be cut and splitting the timber after the timber has been cut.

2. Description of the Prior Art Various hydraulically operated apparatus for splitting timber are known in the art. A typical example of such prior art devices are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,640,323, 3,077,2l4, 3,422,955, 3,280,864 and 3,356,1 l5. Basically, those prior art devices have power actuated rams which either force a timber into a Wedge or force a wedge into a timber. Thus, the basic concept of splitting timber with a power actuated wedge is well known in the art. Other prior art devices included a saw for cutting the timber at the proper length. However, one of the features lacking in the prior art devices has been the ability to accurately measure and automatically advance the timber to a position where the timber can be cut and split in a single continuous operation. The present invention provides an apparatus that automatically measures and advances the timber to a position where the timber can be cut and split in a single operation by utilizing a rotatable bed having an endless chain.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briefly, the present invention comprises an apparatus for advancing, measuring, cutting and splitting timber which includes a timber supporting bed for automatically supporting and advancing a timber to a position to be cut off. The timber supporting bed comprises an endless chain which is mounted on sprocket wheels. A saw is located on the invention for cutting the timber at predetermined positions and a splitting wedge is mounted on the apparatus for splitting the timber by forcing the timber against a hydraulic actuated ram. The hydraulic actuated ram performs a dual function. The first function is to force the timber against the splitting wedge to sever the timber into at least two parts and the second function is to rotate an endless chain which advances a timber to a position where it can be cut. A further aspect of the invention is a member for preselecting the timber length.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a perspective view of my apparatus for measuring, advancing, cutting and splitting a timber;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of the endless chain for supporting or advancing the timber to be cut;

FIG. 3 is a detailed view of the mechanism for engaging the rotatable bed; and

FIG. 4 is a top view of a dual splitting wedge used with my invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. 1, reference numeral generally designates my cutting and splitting machine. Machine 10 comprises a power actuated loading rack 12 for lift ing the timber onto a bed 13. A power actuated holding arm 14 is positioned above bed 13 to securely hold the timber during the cutting operation. A chain saw 15 protected by a guard member 1511 is located at the end of bed 13 for cutting the timber off. A bed 16 is located on frame 11 for receiving a cut timber. A pair of splitting wedges l7 are mounted on frame 11 for splitting the cut timber, and a power ram 18 is located on frame 11 and in alignment with wedges 17 for forcing the cut timber into the splitting wedges.

More specifically, loading rack 12 comprises a pair of arms 20 and 21 that are adjustable and extendible to rest on the ground when the machine 10 is to be loaded with timbers. A hydraulic ram 24 connects to frame '11 and loading rack 12. Loading rack 12 is pivotally mounted to frame 11 by a pair of pin joints 22 so that by application of pressure to hydraulic ram 24 the loading raises loading rack 12 so the timbers or rack 12 can be slid onto bed 13. Bed 13 is comprised of a first slop ing side 31 and a second sloping side 30 which coact to direct the timber onto endless chain 32. The sloping sides insure that gravitional forces will direct the timber onto endless chain 32.

A pressure actuated holding arm 14 is provided for clamping or securely holding the timber against bed 13. While holding arm 14 is holding the timber, a chain saw 15 which is pivotally mounted to frame 11 is pivoted downward into the log by a suitable power mechanism. After the timber has been cut, it drops down to bed 16 which comprises a pair of side members 40 and 40a. The purpose of side members 40 and 40a is to allow gravitional forces to direct the cut timber to a position in alignment with wedges 17. Located at the end of side members 40 and 40a are a pair of splitting wedges 17 which include a first vertical cutting wedge 17a and a second horizontal splitting wedge 17b.

Located underneath bed 13 of machine 10 is a power actuated ram 18 that forces the timber that has fallen onto bed 16 into the splitting wedges 17.

Referring to FIG. 2, the details of endless rotatable chain 32 and the advancing and measuring members are shown in greater detail. Endless rotatable chain 32 comprises a number of links which hook to themselves to form a continuous chain. Endless chain 32 is rotatably mounted on machine 10 by a pair of idler sprocket wheels (not shown). Located below chain 32 is ram 18 which has a pusher plate 50 attached thereto for forcing a timber into wedges 17. Located at the rear portion of pusher 50 is a pivoting dog 51 that provides for the automatic advancement of the timber into a position to be cut during the back stroke of ram 18. Dog 51 has a one way action so that during the front stroke of ram 18 dog 51 slips over the links but during the back stroke dog 51 engages a link and rotates endless chain 32. FIG. 2 shows dog 51 engaging a link on chain 32 and FIG. 3 shows dog 51 disengaged from chain 32. Dog 51 is pivotally mounted to the ram extension 50 at a pivot point 53 so that when an extension 54 on dog 51 contacts an inclined surface 55 on adjusting member 56 it disengages the dog from the chain. Extension 54 contacts the ramped surface 55 when ram 18 is at the completion of the front stroke which is the splitting stroke. By positioning of member 56 either forward or backward along frame 10, one can determine the point at which dog 51 will disengage from chain 32. It should be noted that as ram 10 is extended toward the splitting edges (front stroke), dog 51 slides past the chain links 32 by tilting upward, however, when one draws the ram back (back stroke), dog 51 engages chain 32 which causes chain 32 to rotate clockwise. As chain 32 rotates clockwise it advances any timber on top of the chain into a position to be cut.

Thus, it is apparent that the forward stroke of ram 18 splits the timber and the back stroke of ram 18 automatically advances a fresh piece of timber into a position to be cut. The length of the piece to be cut can be determined by adjusting meber 56 and ramped surface 55 along frame 10. That is, if member 56 is located toward wedge 17, dog 51 will engage endless chain 32 during a longer portion of the back stroke. Similarly, if member 56 and ramped surface 55 are positioned rearward, or if ramped surface 55 is lengthened, dog 51 will engage endless chain 32 during a shorter portion of the back stroke. Consequently, in the former case the timber resting on endless chain 32 would be advanced further and be longer than in the latter case when the dog engages the chain for a shorter portion of the back stroke.

A further feature of my invention is the use of a vertically positionable wedge 17b which can be hydraulically positioned by an operator.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for measuring, advancing, cutting and splitting timber comprising: a frame for supporting a timber to be measured, advanced, cut and split; a timber supporting bed located on said frame for supporting and advancing a timber into a position to be cut;

said timber supporting bed including a timber advancing member; means mounted on said frame for cutting said timber; a splitting wedge for splitting a cut timber; a power activated ram having a cycle stroke mounted on said frame for forcing a cut timber into said splitting wedge to thereby split the timber into at least two parts; means mounted on said ram for advancing a timber to a position to be cut during a portion of the cycle stroke of said ram.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said timber advancing member comprises an endless rotatable chain comprised of multiple links so that the motion of said ram away from said wedge causes said chain member to rotate and advance a timber thereon to a position to be cut.

3. The invention of claim 2 wherein said apparatus includes means for adjusting the length of the timber to be cut.

4. The invention of claim 3 including a power activated timber loading rack.

5. The invention of claim 4 including a timber centering bed having side walls for directing a timber onto said endless chain.

6. The invention of claim 5 including a power activated holding arm for holding the timber as it is cut.

7. The invention of claim 6 wherein said means for cutting comprises a chain saw. 

1. An apparatus for measuring, advancing, cutting and splitting timber comprising: a frame for supporting a timber to be measured, advanced, cut ahd split; a timber supporting bed located on said frame for supporting and advancing a timber into a position to be cut; said timber supporting bed including a timber advancing member; means mounted on said frame for cutting said timber; a splitting wedge for splitting a cut timber; a power activated ram having a cycle stroke mounted on said frame for forcing a cut timber into said splitting wedge to thereby split the timber into at least two parts; means mounted on said ram for advancing a timber to a position to be cut during a portion of the cycle stroke of said ram.
 2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said timber advancing member comprises an endless rotatable chain comprised of multiple links so that the motion of said ram away from said wedge causes said chain member to rotate and advance a timber thereon to a position to be cut.
 3. The invention of claim 2 wherein said apparatus includes means for adjusting the length of the timber to be cut.
 4. The invention of claim 3 including a power activated timber loading rack.
 5. The invention of claim 4 including a timber centering bed having side walls for directing a timber onto said endless chain.
 6. The invention of claim 5 including a power activated holding arm for holding the timber as it is cut.
 7. The invention of claim 6 wherein said means for cutting comprises a chain saw. 